Mahamuni sage Agastya. The first inventor of modern electric batteries and electrolysis.
23 years ago today. The time was August 8, 1990. On the morning of that day, a conference was being held in Nagpur. There, the then Professor of Nagpur University of Engineering, Dr. P.P Hole demonstrated an electric cell (battery).
Dr. M.C Sahastrabuddhe, Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Nagpur University, is tasked with analyzing Sanskrit literature. One day the sage was reading the "Agastya Samhita" written by Agastya. Suddenly a few verses there caught his attention.
In the earthenware vessel of copper, the copper pot is cultivated in the best culture.
Dastalastha nidhatyaha pardachaditasthaha sanyogajjate tejo mitrabarunasangityam.
(Agastya Samhita)
Translation: Take an earthenware vessel, put a copper sheet in it and place a Sikh necklace. Sprinkle wood powder, zinc and mercury in it, then attach it there and you will get allied energy.
Professor Sahasrabuddhi was a little surprised, the description seemed to him like Daniel Sell. Then he told Dr. P.P informed Hole and requested that he investigate the matter.
Dr. Hole, along with his assistants, began collecting equipment. The problem is in one place and that is the word "shikhigriba". According to the Sanskrit dictionary, the word means peacock's neck. They then went to the local zoo called Duringa and asked the director for a dead peacock with a detailed description of everything. The director asked them to apply in writing and promised to give if possible.
In the meantime, I talked to an Ayurvedic expert about this. He burst out laughing when he heard about the problem and said that ‘shikhigriba’ does not mean peacock neck but the chemical substance of the color of peacock neck which is copper sulphate. The solution to the problem is to prepare the electrical cells. Measured on a digital multimeter, the battery provides an open circuit voltage of 1.38Volt and a free circuit current of 23 milli amperes.
Dr. M.C Sahastrabuddhe was informed of the success. The electric cell was later displayed at the conference. There the background of the whole verse is discussed. Everyone agreed that the description was of the electric cell. In addition, observing the following verses, it became clear that the knowledge of sage Agastya was not limited to this.
The next verse was as follows-
Bring water to life, Danesu Bayesu
Ibam satanam kumbhanamasyogakari akratasmritah.
That is, if we use the power of one hundred such earthenware (batteries), the water will be divided into oxygen and floating hydrogen.
Thanks to modern science, we know that when electricity is conducted in water, it is divided into oxygen and hydrogen!
The next verse says,
Yenmastake focused on airtight clothing
Udan svalghutbe bivartakashyayankam.
In other words, if hydrogen is captured in a windproof cloth, it is possible to fly in the sky! (Hydrogen balloon) The scientists present were amazed. The accuracy and uniqueness of Vedic science was proved once again.